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Old Town Highlights: Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia
4.9
120 Ratings
Fatih
Embark on a captivating small group tour of Istanbul’s top sites and delve into the rich history of Islamic, Turkish, Roman, and Greek civilizations. Explore iconic museums and gain a deeper understanding of Islam and the fascinating historical narratives of Istanbul.
Embark on a captivating small group tour of Istanbul’s top sites and delve into the rich history of Islamic, Turkish, Roman, and Greek civilizations. Explore iconic museums and gain a deeper understanding of Islam and the fascinating historical narratives of Istanbul.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Hagia Sophia Mosque - Originally the main church for all Christians, the Hagia Sophia became the leading church for the Orthodox community after the Christian schism. Following the Turkish conquest of Istanbul, it was converted into a mosque. Your guide will take you inside and provide detailed information to enhance your appreciation of its…
- Hagia Sophia Mosque - Originally the main church for all Christians, the Hagia Sophia became the leading church for the Orthodox community after the Christian schism. Following the Turkish conquest of Istanbul, it was converted into a mosque. Your guide will take you inside and provide detailed information to enhance your appreciation of its beauty. Please note that the entry fee is 25 Euros per person, and we will purchase the tickets for you to avoid waiting in line. Kindly have the amount ready in cash. Starting 15th January 2024, the Hagia Sophia entrance fee will be 25 Euros for all foreigners.
- Basilica Cistern - We will explore the Basilica Cistern, an ancient water storage system designed to endure long sieges. With its impressive size and 336 columns, it is often called the ‘Underground Palace.’ This site is not only historically significant but also offers a unique and captivating experience beneath the streets of Istanbul. Please note that the entry fee is 900 TL per person, and we will purchase the tickets for you to skip the line. Kindly have the amount ready in cash. (Officials have indicated that it will be 1300 TL per person, but the date is not yet confirmed).
- Blue Mosque - We will visit the famous Blue Mosque, officially known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. Its beautiful blue tiles and vibrant ceiling have earned it the nickname “Blue Mosque.” Inside, your guide will explain Islam as you explore the stunning beauty of this architectural marvel.
- German Fountain - We will visit the German Fountain and learn about the historical connection between the Turks and Germany.
- Corlulu Ali Pasa Medresesi - During the tour, your guide will select a stop where you can enjoy a complimentary Turkish coffee or tea.
- Kapali Carsi - We will experience the aromas of spices and discover the hidden streets of the Grand Bazaar.
What's Included
- Tea or Turkish Coffee
- Skip the line at the ticket gate of Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia
- Licensed Guiding Service
- Tea or Turkish Coffee
- Skip the line at the ticket gate of Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia
- Licensed Guiding Service
What's Not Included
- Foods and drinks are not listed inclusion part.
- Gratuities to the guide
- Entry Fee of Basilica Cistern ( 900 TL per person )
- Entry fee to Hagia Sophia, 25 Euros per person.
- Foods and drinks are not listed inclusion part.
- Gratuities to the guide
- Entry Fee of Basilica Cistern ( 900 TL per person )
- Entry fee to Hagia Sophia, 25 Euros per person.
Additional Information
This exceptional small-group tour offers the chance to visit the most renowned attractions in the Old Town, such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Basilica Cistern, all while bypassing the ticket queues. An official tour guide will accompany you inside each location, providing in-depth insights to help you fully appreciate their beauty and…
This exceptional small-group tour offers the chance to visit the most renowned attractions in the Old Town, such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Basilica Cistern, all while bypassing the ticket queues. An official tour guide will accompany you inside each location, providing in-depth insights to help you fully appreciate their beauty and historical importance. Additionally, there will be an opportunity to savor a Turkish tea or coffee.
For a more personalized experience, a private tour option is available.
Please be aware that entry fees are not included in the tour cost. Tickets will be purchased in advance to avoid waiting in line, and it is kindly requested that you have the necessary amount in cash to give to your guide. Payments can be made in Euros, USD, or Turkish Liras.
- Please note that the entry fee for the Basilica Cistern is 900 TL per person, and 25 Euros for Hagia Sophia. You can pay your guide in cash, either in TL, USD, or Euros, so they can purchase your tickets without any delay.
Location
Pudding Shop Lale Restaurant
Divan Yolu Caddesi
Meeting Poing is Pudding Shop Lale Restaurant. The restaurant is located on the street where the tram lines run through Sultanahmet, an approximately 1-minute walk from the Sultanahmet tram stop. We will be at the meeting point with yellow umbrella
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(120 Ratings)
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Ptyduke8
Dec 18, 2024
Great Introduction - Wonderful introduction to Istanbul. Yunus was a great guide. The pace of the tour was perfect. I would recommend that you take this tour to get a good feel for the city.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Justin
Dec 17, 2024
Incredible! Thank you!! - Was incredible! Informative and learnt so much!! Thank you!! Very interesting and was a really fun day! Would recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about the town
Review provided by Tripadvisor
523vadims
Dec 16, 2024
Istanbul at its best with honesty and love - One word: Awesome!!
I am an experienced traveler and we always do tours with local guide. This tour stands out as from the rest!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sssteph
Dec 7, 2024
Recommend! - Highly recommend and it’s worth tipping double. this tour provides a good lay of the land as well as some historical insights.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roxannemb9110fu
Nov 10, 2024
Great tour - Great tour, fun, interesting and honest! We appreciated the recommendations and overall enjoyed it,definitely recommend it :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
54vincentq
Nov 5, 2024
Informative and enjoyable walking tour! - Incredible free walking tour of the top sites of the historic Sultanahmet neighborhood in Istanbul! Very informative about the history of the city and Turkey.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Liamme9646cb
Oct 23, 2024
Essential first stop - Great first stop on the trip. Our awesome guide Mohammad showed us the sights with knowledgeable commentary and gave us tips only a local would know.
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Travelnotenuf
Oct 16, 2024
Great Experience - What a treat! I’ve been to Istanbul a few times before, but hopping on this tour was a great choice! The tour was informative and Mohammed was energetic, lively and had a great sense of humor. He was very engaging! He welcomed questions and made himself available after the tour to help with needs (helped get us back to our accommodations). Both my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Krys_kelly
Oct 15, 2024
Excellent walking tour - The tour guide was excellent. As well as hitting the big attractions he walked us through the streets around the Grand Bazaar and Egyptian Bazaar
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Escape59978526785
Nov 13, 2024
AVOID! Not informative, unprofessional, you'll get just biased opinions, no real information at all! - Possibly one of the worst walking tours I have ever had, and I have done several dozens as is my main way of first seeing a new town. The guide was completely unprofessional, not very informative, and overall a complete waste of time. The tour guide spoke like he was a 14-year-old gangster, his explanations were full of "ya know, whateva, yo guys" and so on, and what's more important, his insights/explanations were basically all political rubbish. He tried to convince us that having free health care and free education is bad, compared repetitively how Trump/the US are the new world empire like the Ottomans were (?!), and just carried on with a lot of nonsense. Now, I don't care whether my guide is pro-Trump or not, as long as get some valuable information out of the tour, but I reckon we spent 75% of the time talking about nonsense and only 15% of was interesting/actual history or culture. We mostly walked to random bits of town (which is ok, as I chose the "alternative" route tour on purpose, but I was still expecting to see some nice/interesting parts of town, not just plain boring streets). Overall, a total disaster. This was the first time in my life where I thought that I didn't want to finish the tour (and I should have left earlier!) - if you only have a couple of days in town you don't want to spend 2-3 hours being stuck in something that is not pleasant nor informative.
It is very unfortunate that I don't remember the name of the guide, as I am aware that other guides in the company might be better, but unfortunately I will have to leave a generalised comment.
Review provided by Tripadvisor